ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the importance of the physical and emotional responses to urban space and habitat as a guide to better planning, urban design and a healthier city. The actions and mental states of individuals cause and are caused by perceptions of the social and physical environments, and are influenced by the spatial context, landscape patterns, group identity and ongoing interactions. Participatory planning processes and the use of mental maps reveal points of view and community information that may be missed or deemed unimportant, particularly by planners relying on Big Data to make decisions or needing the certitude that data might provide. A great street is superior in character and quality and a place that people visit often, it contributes to the community, it is comfortable, safe and encourages social interaction, it is memorable with a distinct identity and representative of the city and its residents.
